» The "iPod tax" has been shot down in Canada. This proposed tax planned on adding a tax as much as 75 Canadian dollars to almost any device with digital storage and for those of which had more than 30 Gigabytes Canadian there would be a maximum $75 can tax. Not only would this tax charge people in no relation to how much music they downloaded illegally, it also assumes that everyone is stealing music, and charges them for it, which many thought would make users feel like they've already paid and could download unrestrained. Because they would have already paid.

» Sciece & Nature, Equally Weird: A rare form of epilepsy, musicogenic epilepsy, which causes siezures because of music--well, not only does it exist but has been cured. Another legitimate reason to turn music down or off has now been dealt with. Woo hoo!

» A few weeks ago I joked that the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame was the only one with nothing to do with steroid users. Turns out I was wrong. Looks like a lot of the hip-hopping folk are taking steroids. Rolling Stone reporter Daniel Kreps seems concerned: "Let's hope this trend doesn't continue..." Hey Kreps, don't coyly include me in your wishes by using a sneaky contraction, I know "let's" means "let us" and I say "no!" I'd gladly sacrifice 50 Cent's health to be able to see him look sobadass. Let this continue! Also, at Slate, Daniel Engber tries to add bleach to this possibly yellow journalism.

» EMI-gration, pt. 2 (pt 1 here): In addition to Radiohead and Paul McCartney, we can add to the list of departures from EMI both the Rolling Stones and 2,000 EMI employees. It's hard to tell if EMI is in the beginning of a new, carefully planned out stage, or just trying to hang on. Time will tell. EMI seems to think it is onto something, starting some type of artist brand sponshorship and placing a bid for independent UK label Chrysalis. Maybe Eminem will head over to EMI, and become sponsored by Slim Fast, because, well, Slim Fast is down. I'll be waiting for Slim Fast Shady's response.

» The Rest, in short: Ike Turner's death, which I reported here, has now been attributed to a coke overdose; Bjork rips shirt off photographer; B. Spears cries into her drink in Rosarito, mumbling "Toxic"; Music folk trying to find a way to get the Grammy's going during the WGA strike; Coachella organizers announce plans for a New York-ish version of the famed California get-together; Silly make-workers in France force Amazon to pay for their free shipping; Travis Barker is not a rockstar (beverage endorsing musician); Lily Allen has a miscarriage; Sonic Youther Thurston Moore provides music for nudie film; Another Mexican musician murdered; Guitar video games are selling (virtual) records; Maximo Park convinced they are the most pure.

» Obits, in short: Songwriter/singer John Stewart, 68 (stroke); Trumpeter Pete Candoli, 85; Andy Palacio, 47.